The How To Get Away With Murder star, herself a two-time Oscar nominee, was pretty candid when addressing the issue, asking many films featuring black actors are produced each year.

"The films that are being made, are the big-time producers thinking outside of the box in terms of how to cast the role?" she continued. "Can you cast a black woman in that role? Can you cast a black man in that role?"

If the answers to those questions are "no," that means there are hardly any nonwhite actors to vote for in the first place, she said — adding that the Oscars are "a symptom of a much greater disease." Davis made a similar point when accepting her Best Actress Emmy last September: "The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there."

Davis also had some words of advice for host Chris Rock, whom some have asked to step down from the awards show.

"I hope he takes it as an opportunity to make a statement, a social statement about change," she said. "It's 2016."

Mashable
is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company. Powered by its own proprietary technology, Mashable is the go-to source for tech, digital culture and entertainment content for its dedicated and influential audience around the globe.